As advances in healthcare prolong life in aging populations, the ability to understand and treat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease has become a significant public health concern. Thanks to a donation from the Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation, Inc., the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine will further expand its research on aging and cognitive function.

The research project, “Epigenetic Clock as a ‘Fountain of Youth’: Is the Epigenetic Age more Important for Cognitive Function than Chronological Age?” will help provide evidence into how biological age can be impacted by various behaviors such as diet, exercise and environment.

“We are committed to supporting this critical research which affects a growing number of the population worldwide,” says Charles W. Douglas, chairman and president of The Dr. M. Lee Pearce Foundation, Inc. “One of Dr. Pearce’s passions was research on aging. We see the potential for clarity on how to start the modification of age-related epigenetic changes that will benefit future generations.”

With Dementia being the primary cause of disability and dependency among the elderly population, the research donation will study if biological age is more of an indicator for cognitive decline to help identify patients at high risk for dementia to increase early intervention measures. The study will also use past genetic and clinical research on multiethnic populations to aid research findings.